Apparatus for filling beer cans or the like

ABSTRACT

The filling devices in an apparatus which fills beer cans orbit about a vertical axis and have upright housings supporting cylindrical centering members which carry deformable gaskets for the mouths of cans. Such cans are supported by a conveyor which orbits with the filling devices and is movable up and down or is held against vertical movement during rotation with the filling devices. The introduction of liquid into the cans takes place subsequent to introduction of a compressed gas, and such gas can be used to bias the gaskets against the mouths of cans during filling. When the filling of a can is completed, the pressure in its interior is increased to facilitate separation from the respective gasket. That supply of beer which remains in a channel of the housing on closing of the beer-admitting valve can be expelled in response to expansion of gas in a chamber which receives such gas by way of the container and is sealed from the container by beer in the channel. The expansion of gas in the chamber takes place in response to opening of a valve which reduces the pressure of gas above the body of liquid in the container. The gasket of each filling device is hollow and/or has an annular groove in the internal and/or external surface to enhance its flexibility.

United States Patent Rademacher et al.

[ 5] Sept. 30, 1975 APPARATUS FOR FILLING BEER CANS OR THE LIKE [75]Inventors: Friedrich Rademacher, Kamen; Karl Quest, Dortmund; Uwe Knabe,Dortmund-Hombruch; Dieter Unger, Waltrop; Heinz Jordan, Dortmund-Korne;Werner Heckmann, Dortmund; Karl Plock, Dortmund-Lucklemberg, all of IGermany [73] Assignee: Holstein & Kappert Maschinenfabrik Phonix GmbH,Dortmund-Lucklemberg, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:431,726

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 175,673, Aug.27, 1971, Pat. No.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 29, 1970 Germany 2042990[52] U.S. Cl. 141/46; 141/392; 277/206 [51] Int. Cl. B65B 31/00; B67C3/26 [58] Field of Search 141/1, 4-9, 141/37-67, 104, 234, 236, 281,282, 287, 165, 311, 312, 368, 392; 277/204, 206, 206.1, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,199 3/1938 Kantor etal 141/287 IZI 11/1966 Benoit 277/206.1

Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-MichaelS. Striker 5 7 ABSTRACT the filling devices and is movable up and downor is held against vertical movement during rotation with the fillingdevices. The introduction of liquid into the cans takes place subsequentto introduction of a compressed gas, and such gas can be used to biasthe gaskets against the mouths of cans during filling. When the fillingof a can is completed, the pressure in its interior is increased tofacilitate separation from the respective gasket. That supply of beerwhich remains in a channel of the housing on closing of thebeeradmitting valve can be expelled in response to expansion of gas in achamber which receives such gas by way of the container and is sealedfrom the container by beer in the channel. The expansion of gas in thechamber takes place in response to opening of a valve which reduces thepressure of gas above the body of liquid in the container. The gasket ofeach filling device is hollow and/or has an annular groove in theinternal and/or external surface to enhance its flexibility.

r I lzai 7/1970 Remane l41/287 US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet20f 103,908,717

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet30f 10 3,908,717

ZAW/

fl///////V/// FIG. 4

Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 4 of 10 U8. Patent U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 5of 10 3,908,717

U.S. Patent Se'pt. 30,1975 I Sheet 7 of 10 3,908,717

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet80f 10 3,908,717

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet90f 10 3,908,717

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 10 of 10 3,908,717

APPARATUS FOR FILLING BEER CANS OR THE LIKE This is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 175,673 filed Aug. 27, l97l, now U.S. Pat. No.3,807,463 granted Apr. 30, 1074.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatusfor filling cans or analogous containers with beer, juice, milk andlorother types of carbonated or non-carbonated liquids. More particularly,the invention relates to improvements in container filling apparatus ofthe type wherein a supply of liquid to be introduced into metallic cansor like containers is preferably stored in an annular vessel below acushion of compressed gas and wherein the vessel rotates during thefilling of containers.

Presently known apparatus of the just outlined character are normallyprovided with an entire battery or equidistant filling devices whichextend downwardly from the annular vessel and are provided with meansfor sealing the mouths of containers (such as beer cans ,and hereinafterreferred to as cans for short) during introduction of metered quantitiesof a liquid, such as beer. It is customary to place empty cans onto aconveyor which is provided with means for lifting the cans into sealingengagement with ring-shaped gaskets of the respective filling devices.Since the cans orbit about the axis of rotation of the vessel duringintroduction of such metered quantities of a liquid, the upper surfacesof the bodies of liquid in the cans are strongly inclined under theaction of centrifugal force which acts on decanted liquid, and suchinclination presents serious problems during removal of filled cans fromthe filling apparatus as well as if it is desired to fill each of aseries of cans with identical quantities of a liquid. The problems whicharise in connection with the inclination of the upper surface of thebody of liquid in a filled can are especially serious during downwardmovement of the can in order to disengage its mouth from the gasket ofthe respective filling devices.

Additional problems arise in presently known filling apparatus for beercans or the like when the cans consist of relatively weak (readilydeformable) material, such as thin aluminum sheet stock. Thus, themagnitude of forces which are employed to insure a satisfactory sealingaction between a gasket and the mouth of a can must be maintained withina very narrow range because, if such forces are too weak, the sealingaction is unsatisfactory and the respective can cannot receive anyliquid or receives less than the desired quantity of liquid. On theother hand, if the forces are excessive, the can is likely to bedeformed so that it must be discarded together with its contents and islikely to contaminate the filling apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved apparatus for filling metallic cans or analogouscontainers with beer, juice or other carbonated or uncarbonatedbeverages in such a way that a relatively weak container is not likelyto undergo deformation in the course of the filling operation and thateach of a series of successive containers receives the same quantity ofliquid.

' vices to seal the mouths of cans or analogous containers preparatoryto and during filling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filling device forbeer cans or like containers with novel means for sealing the mouths ofcontainers without the danger of deformation of containers and in such away that the sealing means can be rapidly and conveniently separatedfrom the mouth of a filled container.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which canbe used for proper filling of relatively weak containers or for thefilling of containers which are capable of withstanding substantialstresses for the purpose of sealing their interior from the surroundingatmosphere.

One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of anapparatus for filling cans or analogous containers with liquids. Inaccordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the apparatuscomprises the means for placing the mouth of an empty container (such asan-aluminum can) into sealing engagement with a specially designedgasket (by moving the can against the gasket and/or by moving the gasketagainst the can), means for raising the pressure in the interior of thethus sealed container by admitting into the container a compressed gas,introducing into the container a metered quantity of a liquid,preferably by gravity flow and preferably while maintaining the liquidat a pressure which is identical with or close to the pressure of gas inthe container, and means for thereupon raising the pressure in thecontainer in the space above the liquid level to promote the separationof the mouth from the gasket.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular inthe appended claims. Theimproved filling apparatus itself,

however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, togetherwith aditional features and advantages thereof, will be best understoodupon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specificembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING vice substantially as seen-in thedirection of arrowsfrom the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a similar horizontal sectional view substantially as seen inthe direction of arrows from the line III- --III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of second filli devices;

FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of FIG. 8 but with the gasket indeformed condition;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a further fillingapparatus showing the manner in which the upper surface of liquid in aproperly mounted can becomes inclined under the action of centrifugalforce during filling, and further showing means for reducing theinclination of such upper surface; I

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a filling apparatusemploying filling devices which constitute modifications of the deviceshown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen in thedirection of arrows from the line X--X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of still another fillingdevice;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a gasket which canbe used to seal the mouths of cans in the filling apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of the gasket as seen inthe direction of arrows from the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a similar fragmentary axial sectional view of a modifiedgasket; and

FIG. 15 is a similar fragmentary axial sectional view of still anothergasket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate afilling device or unit which comprises a housing 101 shown as beingintegral with an annular vessel 102 having a ring-shaped chamber 103 fora supply of beer below a cushion of compressed gas. It is clear,however, that the housing 101 can constitute a discrete part which, witha set of similar housings (not shown), is bolted, screwed or otherwiseseparably fastened to the underside of the vessel 102. A beer can 104rests on a conveyor or turntable 111 and is held in requisite positionby a preferably semicircular or U-shaped positioning device 112 whichmay but need not be provided with or replaced by suction heads, suctionports or like means for holding the can 104 by suction.

The housing 101 is surrounded by and guides a substantially cylindricalsealing and centering member 106 which is movable up and down by ashifter (not shown) corresponding to the shifter SH shown in FIG. 1 ofour US. Pat. No. 3,807,463 and having prongs extending or extendableinto a pair of horizontal slots 108 shown in FIG. 2. These slots aremachined into the peripheral surface of the sealing member 106substantially or exactly diametrically opposite each other. Aring-shaped elastic packing 107 is mounted in an internal groove of thesealing member 106 and'bears against the external surface of theadjacent portion of the housing 101. The aforementioned shifter can movethe sealing member 106 up and down, i.e., into and from sealingengagement with the upper end portion of the can 104 on the conveyor111. The lower end face of the sealing member 106 is provided with arecess 106a corresponding to the recess 70 in FIG. 1 of our US. Pat. No.3,807,463 and receiving an elastically deformable an nular sealingelement or gasket 110. The reference character 109 denotes in FIG. 1 adownwardly and outwardly flaring conical guide surface or centeringsurface of the sealing member 106.

The housing 101 surrounds an insert-or core 113 and defines therewith anannular liquid admitting channel 114 the lower portion of which flaresoutwardly and downwardly, as at 114a, in order to insure laminar inflowof beer into the can 104. The core 1 13 may consist of two sectionswhich abut against each other in the plane of the upper end of theconical channel portion 114a. The continuity of the channel 114, asconsidered in the circumferential direction of the core 113, isinterrupted at one point (not specifically shown) where the core issecured to the housing 101.

An internal shoulder 115 of the housing 101 is flush with the upper endface of the core 113 and forms therewith an annular seat for an elasticvalve member 116 which is held by the enlarged lower end portion 124 ofa tubular carrier 1 18. The internal compartment 119 of this carriercommunicates with an external compartment 119a by way of one or moreapertures 117 which are machined into the carrier. The compartment 119asurrounds the carrier 118 and is in turn surrounded by the housing 101.The carrier 118.is biased upwardly by a helical spring 118a and can bemoved downwardly, against the opposition of the spring 118a, by asuitably configurated stationary cam, not shown, while the illustratedfilling device orbits with the vessel 102 and conveyor 111 about avertical axis. As explained in connection with FIG. 1, of our US. Pat.no. 3,807,463 the vessel 102 preferably supports an entire set ofequidistant filling devices each of which is preferably identical withthe illustrated filling device and serves to introduce into a can 104 apredetermined quantity of beer during travel with the can between afirst transfer station where empty'cans are delivered onto the conveyor111 and a second transfer station where filled cans are being removedfor introduction into a sealing machine, not shown.

The compartments 119, 119a are filled with beer which can flow into thechannel 114 and through this channel into a can 104 as soon as the valvemember 116 is lifted by the spring 118a.

The core 113 surrounds a gas conveyor conduit or pipe 120 which issecured to the sealing member 106 by a substantially L-shaped supportingmember 123. One end of the supporting member 123 has a tapped bore forthe externally threaded lower end portion 121 of the pipe 120, and theother end of the supporting member 123 is secured to the sealing member106 by one or more bolts 125 or analogous fasteners. A lock nut 122 isapplied to the underside of the supporting member 123 to preventunintentional axial displacement of the pipe 120. A ring-shaped flange121a at the upper end of the externally threaded portion 121 serves asan abutment for the horizontal arm of the supporting member 123.

The upper end portion of the pipe 120 extends into the internal space126 of a tubular valve body 127 for a valve member (not shown)corresponding to the valve member 5 shown in FIG. 1 of our US. Pat. No.3,807,463. The upper end portion of the valve body 127 is open andcommunicates with the upper part of the chamber 103 so that it is alwaysfilled with gas which exerts pressure against the upper surface of thesupply of beer in the vessel 102.

The supporting member 123 is located in a plane which includes the axisof rotation of the vessel 102. The housing 101 is further provided withan external circumferential groove which is surrounded by an internalgroove of the sealing member 106 and defines therewith an annularpressure chamber 128 which communicates with the interior of the can 104by way of a a bore, cutout or like passage 132. The passage 132 isformed in part in the housing 101 and in part in the core 1 13. Afurther passage 129 connects the chamber 128 with a pressure reducingvalve 130 mounted in a radial nipple or extension 145 of the housing101. The valve 130 is functional equivalent of the valve 30 shown inFIG. 1 of our US. Pat. No. 3,807,463 and is normally closed.

The pressure reducing valve 130 has a conical seat 130a which isnormally engaged by an elastic valve member 131 mounted on a stem 1313which has an outwardly projecting extension or follower 131a serving totrack a cam corresponding to the cam 31A shown in FIG. 1 of our U.S.Pat. No. 3,807,463. A helical spring 131D biases the valve member 131against the seat 130a. The nipple 145 has a radial port 157 by means ofwhich the passage 129 communicates with the atmosphere when the pressurereducing valve 130 is open.

The upper portion 146 of the annular channel 114 between the core 113and housing 101 communicates with a substantially radially extendingbore 147 which is close to the seat 115 and is machined into the housing101. The bore 147 communicates with an axially parallel bore 148 (seeFIG. 3) which communicates with an expansion chamber 150 in the nipple145 by way of an inclined port 149 (see FIG. 1). The expansion chamber150, the port 149 and the bores 147, 148 are filled with gas, e.g., air.A helicalspring 151 in the expansion chamber 150 biases a valve member152 against the conical seat 153 of a further valve- 142 in the nipple145. The valve member 152 has an outwardly projecting extension 154which can be displaced by an enlarged portion or boss 155 of the stem1318 to thereby move the valve member 152 away from the seat 153. Thevalves 130 and 142 are mounted in an axial bore 156 of the nipple 145.The boss 155 of the stem 1318 does not abut against the extension 154 ofthe valve member '152 when the valves 130 and 142 are closed. Thechamber 150 communicates with the atmosphere, by way of the port 157 andchannels, cutouts and/or bores which are indicated in FIG. 1 by brokenlines, when the follower 131a is depressed to such an extent that itopens the pressure reducing valve 130 and also the valve 142.Communication between the port 157 and the expansion chamber 150 isestablished by way of one or more cutouts in the follower 131a, one ormore cutouts or bores in the boss 155, and one or more cutouts or boresin the extension 154. Thus, the expansion chamber 150 can communicatewith the atmosphere simultaneously with the passage 129 but the passage129 begins to communicate with the atmosphere prior to the chamber 150.

' The maximum diameter of the housing 101 exceeds the maximum diameterof the open upper end portion of'the can 104 on the conveyor 111. Thesame applies for the diameter of the radially outermost surface 10Gb inthe recess 106a for the gasket 110. The core 113 is rigid with thehousing 101-and hence with the vessel 102. The cross-sectional area ofthe pressure chamber 128 exceeds the maximurnm area of contact betweenthe gasket 110 and the upper end portion of the can 104, such area ofcontact being bounded by the innermost and outermost circles of contactbetween the can and the gasket 110.

The operation of the filling device shown in FIGS. 1 tov 3 is asfollows:

The sealing member 106 is illustrated in its lower end position in whichthe gasket 110 is deformed and is held in sealing engagement with theupper end portion of the can 104. It is assumed that the can 104 alreadycontains a predetermined quantity of beer which was introduced into itsinterior in the same way as described in connection with FIG. 1, of ourUS. Pat.'No. 3,807,463 i.e., by first moving the valve member in thevalve body 127 to its open position while the valve member 116 continuesto seal the compartments 119, 1 19a from the channel 114 and while thevalve member 131 dwells in its closed position, and by thereupon openingthe valve including the valve member 116so that a'stream of beer canflow into the can 104 to the level of the lower end of the conduit orpipe 120. The

valves including the valve member 116 and the valve body 127 arethereupon closed again. If the filled can 104 is to be removed, theshifter which extends into the slots 108 lifts the sealing member 106.The filled can area of the chamber 128. The interior of the sealingmember 106 is assumed to be sealed from the atmosphere and from thechamber 103 of the vessel 102 but is already maintained at atmosphericpressure; In the very instant when the sealing member 106 starts to riseunder the action of the shifter, the volume of the chamber 128 decreasesbecause the surface 128a of the sealing member 106 moves upwardly andcloser to the surface 128b of the housing 101. The filled can 104 stillremains sealed from the atmosphere because the gasket 110 undergoesexpansion in response to lifting of the sealing member 106, i.e., thegasket continues to remain for a while in sealing engagement with themouth of the can 104 on the conveyor 11 1. During expansion of thegasket 110, the volume of the unfilled space above the liquid level inthe can104 increases because the inner diameter of the area of contactbetween the gasket 1 l0 and the mouth of the can 104 increases. The

increase in such volume can be said to approximate the 7 product of thecross-sectional area of the gasket 110 and the length of its upwardstroke. The position of'the housing 101 and core 113 with referenceto'the can- 104 remains unchanged. The increase in volume of the spaceabove the liquid level in the can 104 brings about a drop in pressure tobelow atmospheric pressure.

The volume of the chamber 128 decreases in response to upward movementof the sealing member 106 because the housing 101 does not share suchupward movement and, therefore, the surface 128a moves closer to thesurface 128b.- Such rise in pressure is communicated to the interior ofthe can 104 by way of the bore or passage 132, i.e., there occurs anequalization of pressures. However, the pressure in the can 104 willrise due to the fact that the rise of pressure in the chamber 128 perunit increment of upward movement of the sealing member 106 exceeds thedrop of pressure in the can 104. The rising pressure in the interior ofthe can 104 above the liquid level biases the can downwardly, i.e., awayfrom sealing engagement with the gasket 110, whereby the can 104 remainson the conveyor 111 to be transferred into the sealing machine at thesecond transfer station.

As mentioned above, the valve 142 can open in response to opening of thepressure reducing valve 130 which opens when the follower 131a isdepressed by a cam corresponding to the cam 31A in FIG. 1 of our US.Pat. No. 3,807,463. The opening of pressure reducing valve 130 resultsin a drop of pressure in the upper portion of the internal space of thecan 104 above the liquid level. Such drop in pressure is due to the factthat the interior of the can 104 above the liquid level is free tocommunicate with the atmosphere by way of the port 157, space betweenthe seat 130a and the valve member 131, passage 129, chamber 128 andpassage 132. Thus, the pressure of gas above the liquid level in the can104 is reduced to atmospheric pressure in automatic response to openingof the pressure reducing valve 130. The valve 142 remains closed whilethe boss 155 of the stem 131B reduces the gap between its righthand endface and the extension 154 to zero. Thus, the elevated pressure of gasin the expansion chamber 150, port 149 and bores 148, 147 iscommunicated to liquid in the channel 114 (whose upper portion 146communicates with the bore 147) whereby such liquid abruptly or rapidlydescends into the can 104. It is to be noted that the valve member 116is already in sealing engagement with the seat 1 15. The cam which actsupon the follower 131a thereupon shifts the boss 155 to such an extentthat the valve member 152 of the valve 142 is moved away from the seat153 so that the expansion chamber 150 is free to communicate with theatmosphere by way of the port 157. This insures that the pressure inchannel 114 drops to atmospheric pressure. All this takes place prior toaforediscussed I lifting of the sealing member 106 by means of theshifter whose prongs extend into the slots 108. The valves 130 and 142are thereupon closed by the cam which acts on the follower 131a and bythe springs 131D, 151. This restores the initial condition of thefilling device which is then ready to admit beer into the next can 104,such can being placed or conveyed onto the conveyor 111 downstream ofthe second transfer station and not later than at the time when thefilling device reaches the first transfer station.

The provision of the valve 142 eliminates a serious drawback of manypresently known filling devices wherein a supply of liquid remains inthe space corresponding to the channel 1 14 subsequent to lifting of thesealing member above and away from the mouth of a freshly filledcontainer. If the liquid is a carbonated beverage, it is likely torelease carbon dioxide gas and to produce drops which escape into thefilling apparatus subsequent to movement of a freshly filled containeraway from registry with the filling device.

The release of carbon dioxide gas which is entrapped in beer or othercarbonated beverages normally occurs in automatic response to exposureof such beverages to atmospheric air, for example, when the sealingmember of a conventional filling device is lifted above and away from afilled beer can. This causes the formation of aforementioned drops whichare free to descend into the filling apparatus if a supply of beerremains in the channel of the filling device after the filled can ismoved laterally and out of register with the sealing member of suchfilling device.

The pressure in the expansion chamber 150 rises to reach the pressure inthe upper portion of the chamber 103 when the conduit or pipe 120 isfree to establish communication between the interior of an empty can 104and the cushion of gas above the supply of beer in I the vessel 102. Thepressure of such gas is communicated to' the expansion chamber 150 byway of the channel 114, bores 147, 148 and port 149. The expansionchamber 150 is sealed from the interior of the can 104 and the pressuretherein remains unchanged while the beer is free to flow through thechannel 114 because such liquid seals the bore 147 from the interior ofthe can. When the valve member 1 16 is moved to the illustrated sealingposition to terminate the admission of beer into the can 104, and whenthe valve 130 is thereupon opened to reduce the pressure in the can 104above the body of beer therein, the expansion chamber 150 insures rapidand complete evacuation of liquid which remains in the channel 114 afterclosing of the valve member 116. This insures that the apparatus cannotbe contaminated by droplets of beer subsequent to movement of the filledcan 104 laterally of and away from register wth the filling device ofFIG. 1. The expansion chamber 150 contributes to more satisfactoryfilling of cans 104 because it causes admission into a can 104 of thatquantity of liquid which would otherwise remain in the channel 114.Since the can 104 cannot be filled to any desired extent merely byrelying on the axial position of the conduit or pipe 120 (this will beexplained in connection with FIG. 8), the admission of an additionalquantity of beer subsequent to sealing of the lower end of the pipe byliquid in the can 104 insures that the liquid level in a can which hasbeen removed from the filling apparatus embodying the device of FIG. 1is closer to the mouth thanin cans which are filled in conventionalapparatus with orbiting conveyor means for cans.

The quantity of liquid which remains in the channel 114 subsequent toclosing the valve member 116 and prior to the opening of the valve 130can be relatively large (as compared with the volume of a can 104) sothat the liquid which is admitted in response to expansion of gas in thechamber 150 can constitute a substantial percentage of the contents of aproperly filled can.

It was found that the provision of the expansion chamher insures veryeffective and reproducible expulsion of liquid from the channel 114,such expulsion being more effective than the evacuating action whichrnight be due to capillary effect or other influences.

FIG. 4 illustrates a filling device for beer cans 204. All such parts ofthis filling device which are identical with or clearly analogous to thecorresponding parts of the filling device shown in FIG. 1 are denoted bysimilar reference characters plus 100. The reference character 237denotes the annular sealing surface at the underside of the gasket 210in the recess of the sealing member 206.

The filling device of FIG. 4 is practically identical with the fillingdevice shown in FIG. 6 of our Pat. No. 3,807,463 except that the gasket210' is a ring-shaped gasket having an l-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration.

FIG. 5 illustrates on a greatly enlarged scale a portion of a can 204and a portion of the gasket 210'. The upper end portion or mouth 238 ofthe can 204 forms an upwardly and outwardly flaring hollow cone the edgeportion of which abuts against the surface 237 at the underside of thegasket 210. The remaining portion of the upright wall of the can 204 isof cylindrical shape. The reference character 239 denotes the uppersurface of the conical mouth 238.

FIG. 6 shows the gasket 210, of FIG. and a portion of a modified can204A having a ring-shaped constriction 240 immediately below the conicalmouth 238.

FIG. 7 illustrates the manner in which the gasket 210' is deformed inresponse to the application of axial pressure in the direction indicatedby arrow 241, e.g., in response to downward movement of the shifter (notshown) which extends into the circumferential groove 208 of the sealingmember 206 shown in FIG. 6 of our Pat. No. 3,807,463. The can 204 ofFIG. 7 is assumed to be identical with the can of FIGS. When the sealingmember 206 (not shown in FIG. 7) is caused to move downwardly in thedirection indicated by the arrow 241, a portion of the surface 237undergoes deformation because the conical mouth 238 of the can 204penetrates into the gasket 210'. The vertical broken line 243 denotesthe circle along which the mouth 238 contacts the surface 237 prior todeformation of the gasket 210. As the deformation progresses, theinnermost circle of sealing engagement between the mouth 238 and thesurface 237 travels radially inwardly toward the circle denoted by thereference character 244. The lines 242 denotes an intermediate innermostcircle of sealing contact between the mouth 238 and surface 237. Themouth 238 might undergo some deformation (so that its divergenceupwardly and outwardly increases) in response to downward movement ofthe gasket 210'. When a fresh can 204 or 204A is deposited on a conveyorand is properly positioned by a device corresponding the device 112(which may but I need not have one or more ports an analogous suctiontransmitting means), the sealing member 206 moves downwardly and therebycauses the surface 237 of the gasket 210 0r 210 to undergo deformationin a manner as shown inFIG. 7. The valve including a valve membercorresponding to the valve member 116 of FIG. 1 is closed. The properlycentered can 204 or 204A does not move with reference to the housing 201during the entire interval which elapses while the can is being filledduring movement from the first to the second transfer station, i.e., thecan 204 or 204A orbits about a vertical axis at the same angular speedas the filling device and the vessel 202.

A valve including the body 227 and valve member 205 shown in FIG. 6 ofour Pat. No. 3,807,463 opens as soon as the sealing member 206 reachesits lower end position to deform the surface 237 of the gasket 210 or210 in a manner as shown in FIG. 7. The pressure in the interior of thecan 204 or 204A then rises because such interior is free to communicatewith the gas-filled space above the liquid level in the vessel. Thepressure in the chamber 228 equals the pressure of gas in the vesselbecause the chamber 228 communicates with the interior of the can 204 or204A by way of a bore. The difference between the effective areas ofsurface 228a, 228b (see FIG. 4) in the chamber 228 is relatively smallso that the gas which fills the chamber 228 causes the gasket 210 tobear against the mouth 238 of a can 204 or 204A with a relatively smallforce. Thus, the pressure of gas which is admitted by way of the conduitor pipe corresponding to conduit 120 of FIG. 1 determines the magnitudeof the sealing force acting between the mouth 238 and the gasket 210 or210.

The valve including the valve member 216 shown in FIG. 1 opens under theaction of the spring 118a upon completed equalization of pressure in thechamber 228, in the vessel and in the interior of the can 204 or 204A sothat a stream of beer can flow through a chamber corresponding channel114 of FIG. 1 114a and along the internal surface of the can 204 or 204Ato insure a substantially laminar flow. The admission of beer isterminated when the liquid level in the can 204 or 204A reaches thelower end of the conduit or pipe 120. The gas which fills the chamber228 remains entrapped because the pressure reducing valve correspondingto valve 130 of FIG. 1 opens immediately or shortly after the liquidlevel reaches the lower end of the pipe corresponding to pipe 120 tothus reduce the gas pressure above the liquid level to atmosphericpressure. Such opening of the valve takes place subsequent to closing ofthe. valves which admit gas and liquid into the can 204 or 204A, i.e.,after the interior of the vessel is completely sealed from the interiorof the can. The opening of the valve 230 is effected by acamcorresponding to the cam 31A shown in our Pat. No. 3,807,463. Thesealing member 206 is thereupon lifted by the shifter (not shown) sothat the gasket 210 or 210 is raised abovethe mouth 238 and the filledcan 204 or 204A can be transferred into the sealing machine. The axialmovements of the sealing member 206 are shared by gasket 210 or 201.

In accordance with a modification of the filling device shown in FIG. 4,the pressure chamber can accomodate a supply of non-compressible liquid,a plunger or piston and a spring which causes the plunger to bearagainst the body of liquid. 'Such construction has been found to beparticularly satisfactory when the expansion chamber is not filled witha gas. A similar plunger or piston can be installed in the expansionchamber of FIG. 1 to be shifted in a first direction against theresistance of a spring during admission of compressed gas by way of theport 149 and to be moved by the spring in a second direction on openingof the valve 130 to thus expel beer from the channel 114 into thepartially filled can 104.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a portion of an additional fillingdevice which is mounted, preferably with several similar filling devices(not shown), at the underside of a vessel 302 having a cylindricalexternal peripheral surface 302a. The beer can 304 has a mouth which isengaged by a gasket 310 mounted in a vertically movable sealing andcentering member 306. The housing is shown at 301, the channel at 314,the conical lower end portion of the channel 314 at 314a, the supportingmember for the conduit or pipe 320 at 323, the external threads of thepipe 320 at 321, the fastener for the supporting member 323 at. 325, andthe conical centering surface of the sealing member 306 at 309.

The supporting member 323 is L-shaped and is located in a planeextending radially from the axis of rotation of the vessel 302. Thehorizontal arm of the supporting member 323 has a tapped bore for theexternally threaded portion of the conduit or pipe 320 which latter canbe adjusted axially in response to rotation with reference to the member323 to thus change the maximum level of beer in the can 304. FIG. 8shows the parts 306 and 320 in their lowermost positions, i.e., thegasket 310 is in sealing engagement with the mouth of the can 304. Abody of beer is shown in the can 304, as at 300. In the absence ofsupporting member 323,

the upper surface of the body of beer 300 would assume the configurationindicated by the phantom line 300a, i.e., the level of such surface at apoint closest to the axis of rotation of the vessel 302 would be verylow relative to the level point of which is remotest from such axis(i.e., nearest to the peripheral surface 302a of the vessel 302). Thesupporting member 323 insures that, while the can 304 orbits about theaxis of the vessel 302, the inclination of the upper surface of the body300 of beer in the can 304 is much less pronounced (see the curve 300b).The curve 300a is parabola and the inclination of the upper surface ofthe body 300 in the can 304 is attributable to the action of centrifugalforce which acts on the liquid in the can 304 while the latter orbitsabout the axis of the vessel 302. It is clear that, in the absence ofthe supporting member 323, the upper surface (curve 300a) would reachthe lower end of the conduit or pipe 320 much sooner than when thefilling device is provided with the member 323 (see curve 30012). Thebeneficial effect of the supporting member 323 upon the extent ofinclination of the upper surface of the body of liquid in the can 304 isattributed to the mounting of the member 323 in a plane which includesthe axis of rotation of the vessel 302 and to the fact that thehorizontal arm of the member 323 is located at the outer side of theaxis of the pipe 320, i.e., closer to the peripheral surface 302a of thevessel 302. In other words, the supporting member 323 extends across thepath of beer which is being discharged from the conical lower endportion 314a of the channel 314 in that region which is remotest fromthe axis of the vessel 302 and nearest to the peripheral surface 302a.

The filling device of FIGS. 9 and is similar to the filling device ofFIGS. 1 to 3. Therefore, all such parts of this filling device which areidentical with or clearly analogous to the corresponding parts of thestructure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by similar referencecharacters plus 300.

The difference between the filling devices of FIGS. 1-3 and 9-10 is thatthe latter device comprises a modified connection between the conduit orpipe 420 and the supporting member 423. The pipe 420 is movable axiallyof the core 413 in the housing 401 and its lower end portion is providedwith several circumferential grooves 420g each of which can receive abifurcated portion 423b of the horizontal arm of the supporting member423. The distance between the prongs of the bifurcated portion 423bslightly exceeds the outer diameter of the pipe 420 in each groove 420g.The fastener 425 secures the vertical arm of the substantially L-shapedsupporting member 423 to the sealing and centering member 406.

The upper end portion of the pipe 420 extends well into and is movableaxially in the lower end portion of the tubular valve body 427. Asexplained in connection with FIGS. 1-3 the upper end portion of thevalve body 427 is in permanent communication with the cushion ofcompressed gas above the level of the supply of beer in the ring-shapedchamber 403 of the vessel 402. The valve body 427 surrounds and definesa seat for an axially movable valve member (not shown) corresponding tothe valve member 5 shown in FIG. 1 of our US. Pat. No. 3,807,463.

The bifurcated portion 423]) of the supporting member 423 can beinserted into any one of the grooves 420g so that the extent to which acan 404 on the conveyor 41 1 can be filled with beer may be variedwithin a desired range (corresponding to the distance between theuppermost and lowermost grooves 402g in the pipe 420). Otherwise, theoperation of the filling device of FIGS. 9-10 is identical with that ofthe filling device shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The heretofore described filling apparatus exhibit the importantadvantage that the cans or analogous containers on the conveyors neednot be lifted in order to move their mouths into sealing engagement withthe gaskets of the respective sealing members. The mass of the liftingmeans which are used in conventional filling apparatus to raise theempty cans or analogous containers into engagement with the gaskets ofthe respective sealing members normally considerably exceeds the mass ofan empty can. Therefore, the energy requirements of the drive whichmoves such lifting devices up and down are considerable, especially ifthe can on the lifting device is to raise the sealing member by way ofthe gasket. Rapid acceleration of relatively heavy lifting devices inmodern highspeed filling apparatus presents many problems, not only asconcerns the consumption of energy but also as concerns the wear onmoving parts and the generation of noise.

The filling device of FIG. 1 1 comprises a housing 501 for a valvemember 516 mounted in the enlarged lower end portion 524 of a verticallyreciprocable tubular carrier 518. The seat of the housing 501 is shownat 515. The channel 514 which is normally sealed from the compartments519 and 519a by the valve member 516 flares conically upwardly andoutwardly and serves to admit a stream of beer into a can 504 supportedby a conveyor 511. The lower end of the channel 514 terminates in aconically outwardly and downwardly flaring conical surface 501k at theunderside of the housing 501.

The conduit or pipe 520 is secured to and is coaxial with the housing501. The lower end portion of the pipe 520 is provided with acircumferential groove for a split ring 550 serving to retain asubstantially conical vertically movable float 551. Thus, the pipe 520constitutes a" holder for the float 551. When the beer can 504 on theconveyor 511 is empty or when the space below the housing 501 does notaccommodate a can, the float 551 rests on the split ring 550 by gravity.The upper portion of the float 551 is bounded by the surface 552 whoseconicity corresponds to that of the surface 501/1. Thus, when the float551 is lifted, it seals the lower end of the channel 514. The conveyor51 l constitutes a lifting device which can move the can 504 up anddown, and the housing 501 is surrounded by a vertically movable sealingand centering member 506 which carries an annular gasket 510 for themouth of the can 504 on the conveyor 511. The conical surface 509 of thesealing member 506 serves to center the can 504 so as to move its mouthrequisite registry with the gasket 510.

The operation of the filling device of FIG. 1 1 is as follows:

If the conveyor 51 1 does not support a can 504 below the housing 501 orwhen an empty beer can 504 on the conveyor 511 is merely filled withair, the float 551 dwells in the illustrated lower end position andrests on the ring 550. If a can 504 is thereupon placed onto theconveyor 511 and the sealing member 506 is lowered by a shifter (notshown) to move the gasket 510 into sealing engagement with the mouth ofthe can on the conveyor 51 1, the thus engaged can is ready to be filledwith a beer which is decanted from a vessel, not shown,

in the same way as described in connection with FIGS. l-3. Thus, thevalve member (not shown) inthe valve body 527 is moved axially toconnect the interior of the can 504 with the cushion of compressed gasabove the supply of liquid in the vessel so that the pressure in the canequals that in the vessel. The valve member 516 is thereupon movedupwardly to admit beer into the channel 514 and thence into the can 504by way of the conical clearance between the surfaces 50111 and 552. Suchconical gap corresponds to the lower end portion 14a of the channel 14shown in FIG. 1 of our US. Pat. No. 3,807,463 to insure laminar inflowof beer along the internal surface of the can 504. The upper surface ofbeer which accumulates in the can 504 rises and ultimately reaches thefloat 551. The buoyancy of the float 551. The buoyancy of the float 551causes it to move upwardly along the conduit or pipe 520 and to seal thelower end of the channel 514 when the can 504 contains a predeterminedquantity of beer. The valve member 516 is then moved into engagementwith the seat 515 to seal the channel 514 from the compartments 519 and519a. The upper end portion of the filled can 504 is thereupon connectedwith the atmosphere, for example, by way of the conduit or pipe 520, andthe can 504 is removed from the conveyor 511 or is lowered with theconveyor prior to transfer into a sealing machine. The float 551descends with the can 504 (while the latter is being lowered by theconveyor 51 1) whereby the surface 552 moves away from sealingengagement with the surface 501h and the beer which fills the channel514 is free to descend into the can 504 before the latter is moved awayfrom registry with the filling device. The latter is then ready for thenext filling operation which can be started as soon as the conveyor 511receives and lifts an empty can 504 to a position in which the mouth ofsuch can may be properly sealed in response to downward movement of thesealing and centering member 506.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate on a larger scale an annular gasket 610having an I-shaped cross-sectional outline. This gasket has acylindrical external surface 660 and a cylindrical internal surface 661.These surfaces are respectively provided with concentriccircumferentially complete grooves 662, 663 so that the gasket 610comprises an upper flange 665, a lower flange 666 and a web 667. Theupper surface 668 of the flange 665 is parallel with the lower surface669 of the lower flange 666 in undeformed condition of the gasket 610.The grooves 662, 663 have a rectangular crosssectional outline.

The gasket 710 of FIG. 14 is provided in its cylindrical surfaces 760,761 with triangular circumferentially complete grooves 762, 763 so thatthe gasket comprises two mirror symmetrical halves or sections eachincluding a base of rectangular cross-sectional and a tapering part oftrapeziform cross-section. The upper and lower surfaces 768, 769 of thetwo sections are parallel to each other in undeformed condition of thegasket 710.

The gasket 810 of FIG. 15 is similar to the gasket 610 except that thegrooves 862, 863 in its cylindrical surfaces 860, 861 have asemicircular outline, i.e., they are bounded by concave surfaces. Thereference characters 865, 866 denote the two flanges and the character867 denotes the web of the gasket 810. The flanges 865, 866 are providedwith parallel surfaces 868, 869.

If a gasket (such as the gasket 810 of FIG. 15) is of substantial axiallength, each of its cylindrical surfaces (such as the surfaces 860, 861)can be provided with two or more circumferentially complete grooves(such as the grooves 862, 863). It is also within the purview of theinvention to employ in the centering and sealing member of the improvedfilling device gaskets wherein the configuration of groove or grooves inthe inner cylindrical surface (such as the surface 761) deviates fromthe configuration of the groove or grooves in the outer cylindricalsurface (such as 760). Still further, if a gasket is of substantialwidth (i.e., if the distance between its inner and outer cylindricalsurfaces is substantial), it might be advisable to provide it with oneor more internal endless grooves or channels. Such internal channels orgrooves can be provided in addition to or as a substitute for the grooveor grooves in its inner or outer cylindrical surface.

The elasticity of gaskets which are used in many presently known fallingdevices for beer or other types of carbonated or uncarbonated beveragesis relatively low This presents serious problems when such devices areused for the filling of relatively weak containers,

such as cans consisting of thin metallic sheet stock. I Many types ofcans (especially aluminum cans) are readily crushed in response to theapplication of relatively small axial stresses, especially prior tofilling and prior to scaling of their open ends. Relatively hard gasketsof low elasticity are preferred in many conventional filling devices inorder to allow for the application of substantial deforming stresses andto compensate for manufacturing tolerances. The stresses which areneeded to deform a relatively hard gasket in a filling device whosecomponent parts (such as the sealing and centering member and the guidemeans therefor) are not machined with a high degree of precision arelikely to exceed those stresses which can be safely withstood by arelatively weak can of aluminum or the like. The gaskets which areproduced in a manner described in connection with FIGS. 12-15 much lesslikely to require the application of stresses in the range which coulddamage the cans prior to and/or during filling, especially if suchgaskets are mounted in sealing members which are maintained in theirlower end positions by gases introduced into pressure chambersdimensioned as described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 17. Theaforementioned shifters can be designed to gradually lower the sealingmembers into mere abutment with the mouths of cans or like containers,and the gas in the respective pressure chambers (such as the chambers 28of FIG. 1) then takes over to insure that the mouths of the containersare properly sealed from the atmosphere during equalization of pressuresin the containers and the chamber of the vessel as well as during theintroduction of liquids and reduction of gas pressure above the liquidlevel in each freshly filled container.

The gaskets of FIGS. 12-15 preferably consist of relatively soft elasticmaterial which can undergo requisite deformation in response to theapplication of forces which are well below those forces that would belikely to cause deformation of the mouth or another portion of a canconsisting of thin aluminum sheet or other suitable light metal. Theaforediscussed grooves in the cylindrical surfaces of the gaskets and/orin the interior of such gaskets enhance their deformability in responseto relatively weak stresses in order to insure the generation of asatisfactory sealing action all the way around along the entire mouth ofa beer can or the like. The illustrated design of the gaskets has beenfound to be of particular advantage because it allows for readydeformation of gaskets which are completely received in annular recessesof substantially rectangular crosssectional outline (see the recess10611 of FIG. 1).

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In a filling device for admission of metered quantities of a liquidinto cans or analogous containers, a combination comprising guide means;an annular sealing member movable along said guide means upwardly awayfrom and downwardly toward an empty container therebelow, said sealingmember having a lower portion provided with annular recess means; and adeformable annular gasket received in said recess means, said gasketbeing arranged to sealingly engage the mouth of a container and havingan external surface and an internal surface and at least onecircumferentially extending groove provided in at least one of saidsurfaces.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said surfaces isprovided with at least one groove.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said groove is ofsubstantially semicircular cross-sectional outline.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said groove is ofpolygonal cross-sectional outline.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein'said groove is ofsubstantially triangular cross-sectional outline.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said groove is ofsubstantially rectangular cross-sectional outline.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of saidsurfaces is provided with a plurality of axially spaced grooves.

8. In a filling device for admission of liquids into cans or analogouscontainers, a combination comprising guide means; an annular sealingmember movable along said guide means upwardly away from and down wardlytoward an empty container therebelow, said sealing member having a lowerportion provided with annular recess means; and container-engagingdeformable annular gasket means provided in said recess means and havingat least one internal recess to promote its deformability in response toengagement with the mouth of a container therebelow.

1. In a filling device for admission of metered quantities of a liquidinto cans or analogous containers, a combination comprising guide means;an annular sealing member movable along said guide means upwardly awayfrom And downwardly toward an empty container therebelow, said sealingmember having a lower portion provided with annular recess means; and adeformable annular gasket received in said recess means, said gasketbeing arranged to sealingly engage the mouth of a container and havingan external surface and an internal surface and at least onecircumferentially extending groove provided in at least one of saidsurfaces.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of saidsurfaces is provided with at least one groove.
 3. A combination asdefined in claim 1, wherein said groove is of substantially semicircularcross-sectional outline.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid groove is of polygonal cross-sectional outline.
 5. A combination asdefined in claim 4, wherein said groove is of substantially triangularcross-sectional outline.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 4, whereinsaid groove is of substantially rectangular cross-sectional outline. 7.A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of saidsurfaces is provided with a plurality of axially spaced grooves.
 8. In afilling device for admission of liquids into cans or analogouscontainers, a combination comprising guide means; an annular sealingmember movable along said guide means upwardly away from and downwardlytoward an empty container therebelow, said sealing member having a lowerportion provided with annular recess means; and container-engagingdeformable annular gasket means provided in said recess means and havingat least one internal recess to promote its deformability in response toengagement with the mouth of a container therebelow.